Pipe union



NOW 3, 1942- J. BERGER ETAL PIPE UNION Filed Jan. 18, 1940 Patented Nov.3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE riPEUNToN Julius Berger,

Berlin-Wilhelmsruh, Rudolf tion, Jackson, Mich.

Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 314,398

' In Germany May' 15, 1939 4 Claims. (Cl. 284-18) The present inventionrelates to pipe couplings of the type wherein shut-oi! valves aremounted in the two couplingmembers, the valvesvbeing kept open when thecoupling is closed and closed when the coupling members are separated.

In pipe couplings, more particularly those for pipes for hydrauliccontrolling fluid, it is particularly important that when separating thecoupling members no losses of hydraulic liquid should occur, and thatwhen assembling the coupling members there should be no admission of airinto the coupling, and therefore into the pipes united thereby. Any airthat might get in would make the controlling operation by means of thehydraulic iiuid practically impossible, since 4the air, as distinct fromthe hydraulic medium, is highly compressible, and consequently thepressure conditions and the movement of the liquid in the control pipeswould be fundamentally and always disadvantageously altered.Furthermore, it is very important in pipe coupling that are intendedmore particularly for pipes carrying hydraulic liquid that the valveclosure bodies, when they are in their open positions, shouldrnotobstruct to any appreciable extent the cross-sectional area provided forthe passage of the flowing liquid.

We have found that all these important conditions can be fulfilled in asimple manner, at the same time providing great advantages in structureand manipulation, if the two valve closure bodies, when the two couplingmembers are` united, bear directly upon each other before the beginningof the opening movement, in the line separating the two couplingmembers, and if recesses are provided in the two coupling members,

ing to the invention if each valve is constructed and arranged as acomplete and independent unit, and more particularly if each valve canbe opened and closed independently of the parts of the other valve.

Springs may be provided for automatically re-y panying drawing, in whichple and reliable couplings are obtained if thel valve closure bodies aremoved into the lateral recesses by the coupling pressure. In order tocarry out these movements suitable levers may advantageously be employedin ap valves. The couplings are preferably equipped with a singlemember, preferably operable by hand, and known in itself, which may beemployed both for tightening and releasing the coupling and also foropening and closing the two valves. Screw caps known per se may e. g. beused as a single actuating member, the screw caps embracing the couplingbodies. Y

Particularly advantageous embodiments of the pipe coupling arefurthermore obtained accord- Fig. `1 is a longitudinal section of oneform of construction, in which the valve closure bodies are constructedin a known manner as flaps, and a screw cap is provided for tighteningand releasing the coupling, the two coupling members being representedspaced from each other; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of another form of construction, inwhich the coupling members abut against each other, the valve closurebodies being in their closed position, and a screw cap being providedfor tightening and releasing the coupling and at the same time foractuating the valves.

In the embodiment iuustrated in Fig. 1, twov muti-shaped couplingsleeves I and 2 are provided, Which can be drawn together and releasedagain by means of a screw cap to be hereinafter a hosepipe or the like.The coupling body 2 is correspondingly provided with a screw-threadedtubular member I. Coupling body I has a ilange 5, by means of whichsleeve I can be secured by means of screws or the like.

At the end adjacent to the plane of separation the coupling body I hasan externally screwthreaded tubular projection Ii. This externalscrew-thread is designed to cooperate with the corresponding internalscrew-thread of screw cap 1, which surrounds the other coupling body 2,and is equipped with a rear abutment 8, which can cooperate with anabutment 9, which may be a flange on the coupling body 2, for thepurpose of moving the coupling body 2 towards the coupling body I whenscrewing screw cap l on to screw thread 6, and of pressing them rmlytogether after bringing them into contact. The diameter of iiange orabutment 9 is so dimensioned that the screw cap 'I can be withdrawnbackwards over the coupling body 2.

In the interior ofthe coupling bodies I and 2 are provided the closurevalves and their actuating members and returning elements, which, in theconstructional form illustrated, are similar in form, that is to say, asrepresented in section, they may be mirror limages of each other.

In particular, within each of the coupling bodles I and 2, there is asleeve III, which is displaceable in the coupling bodies, an annularpacking II being provided in each of the sleeves I and 2 for sealingpurposes, packing I2 being located in a groove in sleeve I0, and slidingalong the internal surface of the coupling body.

Sleeve I is equipped at the plane of separation of the coupling with abottom I2 arranged at right angles with regard to sleeve I0 and formingwith it a shell or cup. Bottom I2 may be separately inserted, and bearsagainst an internal annular bead I3 in sleeve I0. Bottom I2 is providedwith a valve passage aperture I4, which, when the valve is closed, iscovered by the valve closure body. Bottom I2 is provided at the passageaperture I4 with a collar I5 forming a valve seat, upon which may bear arim projecting beyond the remainder of the valve closure body I6.Bearing I1 for a joint pin I8 is provided on the side of the valveclosure body I6 facing the interior of the coupling. Arm I9 is rotatableabout joint pin I8, while the other end of arm I9 can be rocked about afurther joint 20, and is here equipped with a toothed segment 22. Joint20 is supported in bearing piece 2| which is secured .ther rolling oftoothed segment '22 along the .rack 23 is not possible. Consequently afurther forward movement of sleeve I0 out of its associated couplingbody is prevented.

If the Itwo coupling bodies are now brought together, rst of all bottomsI2 of sleeves Il,

to bottom I2 of sleeve I0 slidable in coupling.

f body I or 2 as the case may bei Rack 23 meshes with toothed segment22. Rack' 23 is mounted on abutment body 24, which bears against thecoupling body I or 2, and is supported therein in a iixed position.Abutment 24 has a rearward projection 25 bearing against the couplingbody and engaging in groove 26 in the coupling body. For furtherprotection bearing 24, terminates in an extension 21, which likewiseengages in a recess in the coupling body I or 2. Sleeve 28 overlapsextension 21 in an inward direction. Sleeve 28 may be inserted bypressing it into the rear portion ofeach coupling body.

Abutment 24 preferably bears against sleeve I0 through the medium of aseparate slipping surface, the arrangement being suchthat sleeve I0 islongitudinally slidable between abutment 24 and the adjacent wall of thecoupling body.

Sleeve I0 is provided at its rear end, that is to say, at the end remotefrom the plane of separation of the coupling, with a projection 29,which forms a support and abutment for helical spring 30, the other endof which is supported in recess 3I in coupling body I or 2. Helicalspring 30 bears against the coupling body and thus tends to press sleeveI0 out of coupling body I or 2.

A further sleeve 32 is arranged between bottom I2 of sleeve I0 and itsrearward extension 29. little hindrance as possible, of the owingmedium, for instance oil under pressure. The internal diameter of sleeve32 corresponds to the internal diameters of the valve passage apertureand of the coupling body extension 3 and 4, respectively. Sleeve 32 isengaged by recess 33 on extension 29 of sleeve I0, and also comprises ahollow 34, which is provided where the valve closure body in its openposition is located.

The coupling operates in the following manner. When the two couplingmembers are completely separated from each other, spring 30 Sleeve 32serves for the passage, with asaswell as valve closure bodies I6, comeinto surface contact with each other. Consequently an escape of themedium flowing through, and an undesired admission of air, is notpossible during the following coupling operations. After sleeves I0 ofcoupling bodies I and 2 have been brought into surface contact, screwcap 1 ls screwed on to thread 6 of coupling body I. Consequently thecoupling bodies I and 2 are brought nearer together, since sleeves I0can be displaced backwards into their coupling bodies, against theaction of springs 30. At the same time, owing to the toothed gears 22and 23, closure aps I6 of the valves are rocked into their openposition, until, with the coupling completely closed, they are locatedin their open positions, in which they offer no resistance at all to themedium flowing through. 'I'his position is indicated in dot-and-dashlines in Fig. 1.

In releasing the coupling the reverse procedure 'are reached is acomplete release of the coupling and separation of'the coupling bodies Iand 2 possible, as the latter until then were still held together byscrew vcap 1.

vprovided, at their opposite ends with screwthreaded extensions 43.Coupling bodies 42 flare out, in the direction towards the plane ofseparation of the coupling, to form a member 40, which has, at the planeof separation of the coupling, inwardly directed projections 4I.Projections 4I form annular bodies, the remaining aperture being at thesame time the passage aperture of the particular valve., Coupling bodies4I, 42 and 43 abut against each other in the closed condition with thefront external surfaces of the parts 4 I In each of the coupling bodiesthere are also provided a cavity 44 for the accommodation of a helicalspring and a cavity 45 for the accommodation of a sliding bolt orplunger 46. Plunger 46 slides in bore 45 parallel to the axis of thepipe coupling. Packing 41 is provided round a constricted portion ofbolt 46, and seals the bolt guide from the exteriorand from theinterior. Bolt 43 is supported by its head 48 in inwardly directedcollar 5I on sleeve 52 which surrounds the coupling bodies. To securebolt 46 in collar 5I the bolt is provided with a girdle 49 or the like,which prevents axial displacement of the bolt in the bearing bore ofcollar 5I. Upon relative displacement of the coupling body and'of sleeve52 embracing the latter bolt 46 is moved axially to and fro in its guide45 in the coupling body. Bolt 46 cooperates in a manner to behereinafter described with a cam for actuating the ap valve.

The helical spring provided in cavity 44 of the coupling body isdesignated 50. Spring 50 bears at one end against the coupling body andat the other end against collar 5|. Spring 50 tends t`o move thecoupling body away from its surrounding sleeve 52 integral with collar5I in such a way that the two coupling bodies are pressed against eachother.

Sleeve 52 is provided with a fastening flange 53 and an external screwthread 54. Screw thread 54 cooperates with internal screw thread 55 inscrew cap 56 provided externally with grooves or ribs 51 to facilitatemanipulation. Screw cap 56 has at the end remote from internal thread 55an inwardly directed abutment 58, which can cooperate with acorrespondingly directed collar 59 on sleeve 60. Packing r Buffer 6i islocated in a groove in screw cap 56 in front of the end face of sleeve60 facing the plane of separation of the coupling. Further packings onthe contact surfaces of collars 4| of the coupling bodies are denoted by62.

The inner margins of collars 4l are constructed as seats 64 for valveaps 63, which have on one side a thickened portion 65, which continuesinto an extension as far as cam 10. The extension of the thickenedportion 65 forms at one place a rotational bearing for iiap 63. Therotation is eiected about bolt 66 secured to coupling body 42 or 40 bymeans of bearing 61. Helical torsion spring 68 is preferably arrangedround rotational bolt 66 and bears with one end 69 against valve flap63, and with the other end on the rotary bearing in such a way that it.constantly tends to force valve ap 63 into its closure position.

Cam 10 cooperates with plunger 46 for transmitting the opening force tothe valve ap.

Finally, 'H and 12 denote respectively aslot and a bolt which areprovided on the coupling bodies 42 and on the sleeves 52 or 60surrounding them respectively, and ensure a limited purely axialdisplacement of the respective coupling members.

The coupling operates in the following manner. With the coupling bodiesor halves separated, springs D force coupling bodies 42 in'the directionof the plane of separation of the coupling, abutment pins 12 fixingtheir limiting positions. Moreover torsion springs 66, 69 force valveplates 63 on to their seats 64, since actuating plungers 46 do not pressupon cams 10, this position being shown in Fig. 2.

If screw cap 56 is now screwed along thread 54 sleeves 52 and 60 arepositively moved relatively to each other, since thread 54 isrigidlyconnected with sleeve 52, and abutment 58 presses against collar59 of sleeve 60 and takes the latter along. During the movement ofsleeves 52 and 66 towards each other, on the one hand recoil springs 50are compressed and stressed, and on the other lxand plunger 46, which isundisplaceably mounted on the sleeve 52, is pushed more and more throughits guide 45 and against cam 10 of valve plate 63, until it touches cam10. Finally, plunger 46 forces cam 10 to rotate about bolt 66, valveiiap 63 being moved into its open position against the action of torsionspring 68, 69.

With the coupling completely tightened, valve plate 63 assumes theposition illustrated in dot and-dash lines in Fig. 2.

Upon releasing the coupling by unscrewing pling bodies under the actionof springs 50. Furthermore, valve iiaps 63 are moved more and moreintotheir closure positions under the action of torsion springs 68, 69,the particular operative position being initially determined by plungers46. Upon the closure position being reached, plungers 46 are moved awayfrom cams 10 so that they no longer have any influence upon themovability of the valve flaps.

After completely unscrewing the vscrew cap from thread 54, the couplingmembers can be separated, since the passage apertures of the valves havealready been completely shut off.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the details ofconstruction of the invention without departing from the, broader spiritand scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

What we claim is: Y

1. A pipe coupling comprising two muff-shaped coupling members, eachcomprising a slide body slidable axially with regard to the couplingmember, a valve seat, a valve closure flap pivoted to said slide body, aspring urging the slide body to protrude axially from the couplingmember I beyond the line of separation of the coupling members, acontrol means fitted to the coupling member, and engaging meansconnected with the valve closure body and cooperating with said controlmeans, said cooperating control means and engaging means causing thevalve closure l bodies to rock into their open position when the slidebodies are pushed into the coupling members by pressing them againsteach other against the action of said springs, and to rock back into theclosed position when the coupling members are allowed to move as underthe action of said springs.

2. A pipe coupling consisting of two mushaped coupling members, each ofsaid coupling members comprising a cup-shaped slide body having a bottomportion slidable axially with regard to the coupling member, the bottomportion of said two cup-shaped slide bodies facing each other andabutting against each other when thecoupling members are engaged, eachof said bottom portions being formed with a passage aperture, the edgethereof forming a valve seat, each coupling member further comprising avalve closure flap pivoted to said slide body, a compression springbearing at one end against the coupling member and at the other endagainst the slide body and urging the slide body to protrude axiallyfrom the coupling member beyond the line of separation of the couplingmembers,

a control means fitted to the coupling member, and engaging meansconnected with the valve closure body and cooperating with said controlmeans, said cooperating control means and engaging means causingthe,valve closure bodies to rock into their open position when the slidebodies are pushed into the coupling members by pressing them againsteach other against the action of said springs, and to rock back intotheir closed position when the coupling members are allowed to moveasunder under the action of said springs, and a recess in each of saidcoupling members adapted to house said valve closure body when in itsopen position, whereby the united coupling provides a substantiallyuninterrupted liquid passage therethrough.

3. A pipe coupling consisting of two muffshaped coupling members, eachof said coupling screw cap 50 sleeves 52 and 60 that have been broughttogether, are moved away from their co.u

body slidable axially over the coupling member. the bottom portion ofthe two coupling members facing each other and abutting on each otherwhen the coupling is engaged, each of said end against the couplingmember and at the other end against the slide body and urging the Islide body to protrude axially irom the coupling member, a plungersecured to the slide body and slidablefin. the coupling member, a camconnected with the valve closure flap and cooperating with said plunger,said plunger and said cam causing each of said valve closure aps to rockinto their open position when the slide-bodies are pushed into thecoupling members against the action of said spring, and further springsfor returning the slide body and the valve closure ilap into theirclosed positions when the coupling members move asunderV 4.' A pipecoupling consisting of two muffshaped coupling members, each comprisinga slide body'slidable axially in the interior ofV the coupling memberand provided with a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the two slidebodies facing each other and abutting on each members comprising abottom portion, a slide other when the coupling members are engaged,

-each oi' said bottom portions being formed with a passage aperture, theedge thereof forming a valve seat, a rocking arm pivotally mounted on'the slide body, said valve closure body being mounted on the free end ofsaid rocking arm, a compression spring bearing atone end against thecoupling member and at the other end against the slide body and urgingthe slide body to protrude axially from the coupling member beyond theline oi separation of the coupling members, a toothed rack secured tothe coupling member, a toothed segment extending under an angle of about90 degrees, rigidly connected With said rocking arm,' concentric withits pivot and meshing with said rack, said toothed rack and said segmentcausing the valve closure bodies to rock into their open position whenthe, slide bodies are pushed into the coupling members by pressing themagainst each other against the action of said springs, and to rock backinto their closed position when the coupling members are allowed to moveasunder under the action of said springs.`

JULIUS BERGER. RUDOLF HUNDT. RUDOLF KAISER.. HERMANN KLAUE. EDUARDTATSCHKE. WILLY ZURMHLEN.

